Tuesday, May 31, 2016

For a group of people who spend all day sitting in one spot, highsec miners love to duck, dodge, and weave when it comes to their responsibilities under the Code. If they don't have a permit, they complain that they weren't AFK. If they're AFK, they complain that they're new and weren't warned. If they're not new, they say to go bother nullsec miners, or bots, or mission-runners. And so on.

But Code compliance means that a miner is supposed to obey the entire Code--even if they'd prefer to pick and choose the provisions most convenient for them.

Miners are not permitted to mine excessively. The call is made by our fair and impartial Agents. You'd be amazed how good they are at ferreting out the Code violators. Consider Andrew Prinzmeister, whose violently anti-Code attitude and disrespect for our Agent (a violation of the Code on its own) was revealed with a single gank.

Of course, "excessive" mining may occur in one session, or it may be excessive when figured cumulatively.

Other symptoms of bot-aspirancy can be the consequence of excessive mining. And, it must be pointed out, even a single unit of ore is excessive if mined without a permit.

The excessive mining provision is a controversial one. The intellectually incurious miner who lives in highsec and dares not venture outside his comfort zone may nevertheless be eager to debate our Agents' interpretation of "excessive".

In a debate between an Agent and a carebear--whether on the Code or any other subject--I know where I'd put my money.

Hypocritically, the highsec miner claims to be in favor of new players and higher subscription numbers. All while taking ore better left for newbies.

Code compliance must be total. It's hard to trust that a miner obeys one provision if he's so quick to disobey others.

For instance, if a miner responds to a gank with disrespect and insults, it's solid evidence that he was guilty from the moment our Agent entered local. This is true even if our Agent didn't perform an AFK check, etc.

Jaketh Daine was ganked by Agent Tisiphone Dira. He was obviously guilty of something, but what?

Aha! He'd failed to offer a "gf" in local after being ganked. Impressively, Tisiphone knew this would happen even before ganking him. She performed a retroactive gank.

Jaketh's lack of respect for the Saviour of Highsec only confirmed what Tisiphone already knew: Jaketh was a bot-aspirant.

At least Sir Jamie Diamond was honest. As honest as a lying, thieving Code violator can be, that is.

Rebels and skeptics clutch their pearls and accuse our Agents of "not following their own Code". It's an easily disproven claim. Consider: Even if we only count the CODE. alliance's kills, over 31 trillion isk worth of bot-aspirants have been destroyed. CODE. has over one hundred fifty thousand kills to its name. Where are all of the cases of Agents making mistakes? Supposing our Agents have a 95% accuracy rate, that would still leave many thousands of wrongly ganked carebears. So where are they?

Only one conclusion can be drawn from the evidence. Our Agents enforce the Code to perfection. The CODE always wins. Always.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Agent Fate and Destiny destroyed Katt Trygon's Retriever. Fate offered her a gf, but she replied with a gfys, which is not the same thing.

Agent Fate was then subjected to the anti-male bias that men sadly experience all too often in EVE.

Though Fate gave Katt some advice on how to avoid being ganked, it was clear that the miner wasn't interested in the whole "learning" thing. After all, she'd been ganked by Fate less than two weeks earlier while mining in the exact same asteroid belt.

Fate didn't message Katt again. Instead, Fate ganked her Retriever one day later--again in the exact same asteroid belt.

Though every New Order victory is an impressive one, some attract more attention than others. Fate and Destiny managed to take down a Hulk, a ship that was once the predominant mining vessel of highsec, but which is now teetering on the brink of extinction.

You Blew Up was so affected by witnessing the destruction of the Hulk that she wrote to the pilot two days later.

Harvester Mining Drones are arguably the best evidence of illegal decadence among miners. A full set costs around a billion isk. Being drones, they naturally have very few hitpoints. In addition, when deployed, they automatically have a 100% chance of being "dropped" for the ganker.

A proxy conflict brewed between You Blew Up and Dagda Rha. You Blew Up's friend was accused of stealing Dagda's roommate's drones.

Strangely, Dagda's first loyalty was to his roommate, as opposed to the person who offered him a chance at learning to play EVE properly.

You Blew Up's friend was a ganker, it's true. But she identified with him not out of friendship, but because of their shared values. Objectively speaking, You Blew Up's friend was in the right.

Dagda's irrational advocacy for his bot-aspirant roommate makes one wonder: Were they engaged in account sharing? Had they found a means by which they could double their AFK/hr ratio?

You Blew Up spoke reason to the former Hulk owner. If she succeeded in getting Dagda to embrace the Code, maybe that would have a positive effect on Dagda's roommate, as well.

Alas, it seems that the two roommates' bot-aspirancies mutually reinforced each another.

Dagda gave You Blew Up an "official notice" not to contact him again. Like Katt Trygon, Dagda Rha had no interest in speaking with someone who questioned his dangerous carebear lifestyle. You'd think the loss of multiple sets of Harvester drones would serve as ample warning. But some miners need to lose everything before they're willing to open themselves to the Code. Only then do they realize that their gankers--not their roommates--are their true friends.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Rebels and skeptics say that the New Order gives EVE players a bad reputation. Nonsense. Having disposed of that argument, imagine the reputation our fair EVE community would have, if the Code didn't exist. People would say EVE is a theme park game with bad graphics, based around highsec isk-grinding in 100% safety. When asked about low/null/wormsec, people would reply, "They all import their wealth from highsec anyway. They're not relevant." Thank goodness for the Code. Let's enjoy some manifestations of the Code that occurred during the week of May 22nd @ 00:00 EVEtime through May 28th @ 23:59 EVEtime.

Isilmista was a typical nihilist bot-aspirant. Her triple-anti-tanked industrial was worth over 5 billion isk, but she didn't bother to slap on so much as a Civilian Shield Booster. Is this EVE or Hello Kitty Online? When Agent Ralliana showed up, it became EVE.

Ralliana knew she needed to kill the industrial based on her scan of its cargo. But it wasn't the PLEX that motivated the gank.

Last week, djjohnson proved that some people still actually pilot Hulks, even in 2016. Normally a 2 billion isk Hulk would be equipped with ORE Strip Miners, but djjohnson opted for a bling fit and a modest capacitor tank. Agent Eva Mavas dragged djjohnson into the future, kicking and screaming.

Speaking of bling fits, Dried slowly cruised across highsec on autopilot in a Cynabal that would otherwise have been more than capable of shooting back. Once upon a time, Cynabals were considered one of the best ships in the game. But EVE has never been about fancy ships or blingy modules. To make full use of a ship and its equipment, an EVE player needs skill. To prove the point, Agents Rick Therapist, Brutal Anna, and Carebears' Nightmare teamed up and showed the carebear how elite PvP is done.

Culculus corp owned an inconspicuous little control tower. If you want to anchor anything in New Order territory--even a small tower--you need permission from the proper authorities. Agents Amanda Rekenwhith, Ho-Lee Crap, Zeke N Destroy, and CODE Customer Service learned of the tower's existence and removed it. The tower itself was cheap...

...But what the research laboratory contained was not. Amanda and her fellow Agents scooped it and enjoyed a blueprint worth several billion isk.

Dark Fiber Utama lost a 2.5 billion isk pod after Agent Carebears' Nightmare took down his 440 million isk Iteron Mark V. (For a sneak peak at the new meta, check out the Iteron's fit. Hint: sometimes a capacitor tank isn't enough.)

Shield and gunnery implants were incinerated during this kill. Somehow I doubt Dark Fiber Utama will be a less effective hauler without them.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

One of the first things explained by the Code is that miners need to be saved from themselves. But who cares enough about a bunch of AFK, self-destructive isk-grinders to rescue them? I do--hence my title. And so do all those who represent highsec's Saviour and its Code. For example, people like Agent Lament von Gankenheim.

Lament von Gankenheim > \o minerdokMixer > Hey, thanksLament von Gankenheim > its my pleasure!dokMixer > Glad to come back to Eve for that, appreciated.Lament von Gankenheim > no problem at all.dokMixer > No wonder why the game loses more and more players and fails at launching new licenses.

Despite beginning EVE nearly nine years ago, dokMixer spent his days mining with a Retriever in highsec. Our heroes rescued him from his mining ship, and then, his pod, though only the podkill appeared on the killboards.

Lament von Gankenheim > i know itdokMixer > U sure do.Lament von Gankenheim > its like shooting peoples spaceships in a spaceship shooting gameLament von Gankenheim > is out of the ordinaryLament von Gankenheim > Eve Is The Friendliest Game Evar!dokMixer > Yeah, it's not like ppl are actively trying to play, and grind to have fun

Initially, it seemed like dokMixer might have been receptive to the Code. He even thanked our Agent for ganking him. Then it turned out that his thanks--which would've been entirely appropriate, under the circumstances--were not sincere. He blamed our heroes for EVE's declining subscription numbers!

Lament von Gankenheim > grinding is not funLament von Gankenheim > thats where people like you never learnLament von Gankenheim > isk/hr is a shitty way to playLament von Gankenheim > fun/hr is where its atdokMixer > You sure know how we have to have fun.

Carebears operate under a multitude of misconceptions. Some of those misconceptions are about the game (e.g., highsec is supposed to be safe) or about our Agents (e.g., that they're guilty of "harassment"). Interestingly, some of the carebears' misconceptions are about themselves. dokMixer believed he was having fun by grinding, when this was not the case.

The New Order is built upon the rock-solid foundation of the Code's truths, not the ever-shifting sands of political expediency. For this reason, our Agents are not required to pretend that they believe whatever happens to be in vogue among carebears at the time. Lament was therefore under no obligation to entertain the fanciful notion that dokMixer enjoyed mining.

dokMixer > I love cookie clicker.dokMixer > I love farming games.dokMixer > I complain the same way i saw campers in any games.dokMixer > I like the idea of killingdokMixer > But i likethe challenge.Lament von Gankenheim > game mechanics expressly prevent me from campingdokMixer > Oh you sur ehad a haaaaard time killing me

As we've seen before, carebears are so deceptive--indeed, so self-deceiving--that their claims cannot be taken at face value. We look to their actions instead. The fact that miners are AFK, alt-tabbed, playing other games, and doing pretty much anything other than mining proves that they don't enjoy it.

Lament von Gankenheim > you made it very easyLament von Gankenheim > www.minerbumping.comLament von Gankenheim > since 2012dokMixer > i know.dokMixer > that's the reason i stopped lowsec mining for a timeLament von Gankenheim > well, the best news is that ship wasnt very expensivedokMixer > hahaha, for you maybe

dokMixer thought he could get away with his "I enjoy grinding isk, so leave me alone" charade. Lament saw right through the miner. And that scared him.

Lament von Gankenheim > whats even less expensive is a permitLament von Gankenheim > theyre only 10m isk and good for a yeardokMixer > permit ? You are serious ?Lament von Gankenheim > oh absolutelydokMixer > I dont want to have ingame the same shitty system that we all already have to endure in real lifedokMixer > Your choice, to reproduce the same shit in a game

dokMixer was horrified by the idea of spending 10 million isk on a permit. He was less concerned about paying significantly more than 10 million isk for his ships, modules, and implants. The difference? Mining permits are emergent content. dokMixer was a bot-aspirant.

dokMixer > I just want to pay for a ship, to do missionsLament von Gankenheim > no you dontLament von Gankenheim > mining is THE single worst isk making career available in the gamedokMixer > every time i try to buy a ship, i get destroyed.Lament von Gankenheim > if you would like to PLAY eveLament von Gankenheim > i would be happy to have youdokMixer > my decision was to mine in highsec, get less money than in nullsec, and still try to stay alive, with a ship i try to equipe good to mine more, and equip my main ship

Miners are like a fish that know nothing beyond the fishbowl. Lament, with his objective, outsider's perspective, knew the miner much better than the miner knew himself. Thus, Lament was in an ideal position to help dokMixer understand his feelings and make proper decisions.

Lament von Gankenheim > mining sucksdokMixer > i dont have 100 thousands of millions iskdokMixer > yeah, but how can i just play with a destroyer, and afford to buy a new one if i get shot ?dokMixer > i cant if i dont join afactionLament von Gankenheim > people have been doing it for yearsdokMixer > ahahaha, sure yeah. From nothing you make and buy new fully eauipped ships like thatdokMixer > you cant dude, bullshit

dokMixer didn't believe it was possible to play EVE without relying on highsec mining. It's a good thing he ran into our Agent.

dokMixer > you farm missionsLament von Gankenheim > m8Lament von Gankenheim > i havent run a mission on this char since creationdokMixer > i'm not your mate. Eve is fun for noobkillers maybe, but it's not for me.Lament von Gankenheim > im ON a missionLament von Gankenheim > to save highsec!dokMixer > Sure

The miner indicated that he was almost ready to quit EVE again. Could Lament retain him?

Lament von Gankenheim > so...now youre a noob?Lament von Gankenheim > a nullsec mining, combat minded noob?Lament von Gankenheim > from 2007dokMixer > It's the third time i give a chance to EvedokMixer > The third time i see the community just does not careLament von Gankenheim > youre wrong againdokMixer > your mission is just a pretext

dokMixer was tragic. He thought the EVE community didn't care. And yet, standing right in front of him was a member of the New Order family.

Lament von Gankenheim > my mission is to make people like you wake updokMixer > you just cant think at my place mandokMixer > i like what i was doingLament von Gankenheim > nopedokMixer > you want me to be like youdokMixer > have something to tell me ?Lament von Gankenheim > gfLament von Gankenheim > thats what i have to tell youLament von Gankenheim > www.minerbumping.com

Again dokMixer asserted his mistaken belief that he enjoyed mining. He was talking like an addict. This was an intervention now.

dokMixer > have fun trying to think you are not making people sad just because you think your way of playing is the only onedokMixer > mining communities exist for e long timedokMixer > you are the probel dudedokMixer > wake the fuck upoLament von Gankenheim > no they dontLament von Gankenheim > mining "communities" are toxic cesspools of greed and narrowmindedness

As Lament suspected, dokMixer had been infected by lies from the carebear theme park crowd. No wonder he'd jumped so quickly to the "EVE is losing subscriptions" line of argument. Carebears know more about EVE subscription numbers than they know about the mechanics and rules of the game itself.

According to a public statement from CCP's chief marketing officer a few years ago, an astounding 96% of EVE players are male. By contrast, many "casual" games have gender parity or close to it--giving them nearly twice the pool of potential players from which to draw.

Sensing that he was on the losing side of the argument, dokMixer tried to call in support from his girlfriend. The gambit failed. Lament von Gankenheim, from his superior vantage point, correctly deduced that dokMixer's girlfriend--if she existed--actually sided with Lament rather than her tiresome carebear boyfriend.

dokMixer > open your eyes mandokMixer > you are toxicdokMixer > no one needs you to buy you an identityLament von Gankenheim > if i was carrying on this conversation with my eyes closedLament von Gankenheim > i would be kingdokMixer > oh you sure are a kingdokMixer > thanks for answering my text, king.dokMixer > you must be so proud.Lament von Gankenheim > youre welcomeLament von Gankenheim > jester?

Speaking with Lament forced dokMixer to challenge everything he thought he knew. He didn't like the taste of the medicine, yet he desperately needed it.

The miner's ability to speak deteriorated rapidly. Ashamed, dokMixer withdrew from the conversation. If he quits EVE and returns again at some future date, he will find an even more welcoming game. The New Order's progress continues. When we're done with highsec, people like dokMixer won't even recognize the place!

Friday, May 27, 2016

Last week, we had an important conversation about the Code and the players who are "too new" to know about it. Let's take a look at some practical examples of Agents dealing with newbies.

Agent Lament von Gankenheim received a desperate plea from Alice Wu, who had been wiped out by the loss of her ship. Alice didn't pretend to be unaware of the Code; she was simply too exhausted to obey it. Nor did she attempt to shift the blame onto the Agents who had ganked her. None of that "you're not following your own Code" nonsense. Lament rewarded her. Not with isk, which Alice didn't really need, but with a standing invitation to join the New Order and enforce the Code.

Now for a more typical case of a newbie who lost everything. How should Agent Aaaarrgg handle Sepultra Redmist's cry for help?

Aaaarrgg and a small group of Agents destroyed Sepultra's fail-fit Procurer. Although CCP buffed the EHP of Skiffs and Procurers almost the point of absurdity, Sepultra managed to pilot one with less than 20,000 hitpoints. Even more damning, Sepultra's pod warped back to the station but remained outside for 18 minutes before our heroes removed it.

Sepultra's first EVEmail was intended to elicit, if not reimbursement isk, then at least pity. He could only keep up the act for a few minutes before sending another EVEmail. This time he called Aaaarrgg and his fellow Agents "idiots" and falsely accused them of violating the Code. Curiously, the accusation was based on the exact same misinterpretation of the Code that we see from miners all over highsec.

I'm not sure why so many carebears believe that our Agents are required to do an AFK check before ganking them. I've read the Code many times and have never seen that provision in there. (An ironic twist: The same carebears who manage to find that apparently well-hidden provision always manage to gloss over the part about buying a mining permit.)

Sepultra's attitude problem was readily apparent. If he was as new to EVE as he claimed, Sepultra was certainly quick to ascend the learning curve on how to become a Goofus.

Aaaarrgg helped the miner out by reminding him of his obligations under the Code. As an Agent of the New Order, Aaaarrgg knew the actual Code provisions, not the ones that miners make up for themselves. Carebears, I can't urge you enough to contact an Agent if you need help with Code interpretation.

Again, Sepultra accused our Agent of violating the Code, despite being unable to identify any provision that Aaaarrgg violated. Although miners are instructed to read the Code regularly, and although they're expected to follow it, miners get into trouble when they start telling others how to follow it. For some reason, that often results in heretical doctrines being propounded. Miners, focus on being obedient. Leave the leadership to our Agents.

Our Agent spoke frankly to the allegedly young miner. Would Sepultra admit his guilt, or would he come up with more excuses to explain away his bot-aspirant behavior?

In seeking to deny his crimes, the miner condemned himself instead. He admitted that he'd bought a ship he couldn't afford to lose. While claiming not to be AFK, he admitted that he was "talking to a mate" and, later, "out for a smoke" when he should've been concentrating on the game. Astonishingly, Sepultra declared his intention not to read EVE-related websites... apparently including MinerBumping!

Aaaarrgg tested the miner by offering to help him join the New Order, but Sepultra gave him a bit of the "I might've, but I won't" treatment. He was too happy with the corpmates he already had. The same corpmates who didn't give the newbie any isk or good advice.

Sepultra decided to compose an EVEmail to the Saviour of Highsec. More crimes followed. Unless he'd brought his keyboard with him when he went outside to smoke, Sepultra most certainly was AFK. Even worse than lying to the Saviour, the miner claimed, "No one seems to follow the Code." That's a slander on all highsec--and quite a leap for a new player to make after supposedly encountering the Code for the first time.

Despite claiming that he loved his new corp--too much to consider joining CODE.(!)--Sepultra soon left. Somehow I get the feeling that this miner wasn't much of a team player.